Wafrah to launch two pasta lines boosting long-cut and nidi output

Wafrah for Industry and Development announced it would commission two new pasta production lines and begin phased commercial operations in January 2026, a move that should reshape supply for long-cut formats and nested specialty shapes. The company contracted the machinery from Pavan Group, part of GEA, in 2022; final commissioning was delayed by electrical transformer deliveries, remaining electrical work and the on-site arrival of engineering teams to complete programming and packaging tests.

The upgrades add a dedicated long-cut spaghetti line and a nested "nidi" specialty shapes line, increasing Wafrah’s ability to run both standard retail SKUs and more complex nested formats that often require different drying and packaging workflows. Wafrah expects a phased ramp through January, with meaningful production and revenue effects reflected in first-quarter 2026 results. That timeline means buyers, distributors and ingredient suppliers should see changes to volumes and order patterns once the plant reaches steady state.

Delays were operational rather than technical; Pavan-supplied machinery was in place but could not be fully commissioned until transformers arrived and final electrical connections and software programming were completed. The engineering teams needed on-site to run packaging tests and validate recipes arrived late in the program, pushing back the start of commercial runs. Those factors are now resolved and the company is moving into staged production validation before full commercial throughput.

Practical value for retail buyers, foodservice operators and suppliers is immediate. Monitor Wafrah’s upcoming quarterly statement and ask for production schedules or allocation guidance now, since long-cut formats and nidi shapes are likely to see increased availability first. Update demand forecasts, confirm lead times for packaging materials and secure flour or semolina allocations if you rely on Wafrah-supplied SKUs. Packaging houses should prepare for higher order volumes for nested trays and long-cut cartons as the new lines ramp.

For private-label brands and distributors, this expansion could ease shortages of long-cut spaghetti and open opportunities for promotional resets once volumes stabilize. For ingredient suppliers, expect a modest lift in regional semolina and flour demand tied to higher throughput of long-cut products and specialty nidi runs.

This is a production-side development with direct downstream effects: watch the phased ramp through January and the Q1 2026 financials for concrete volume and revenue figures. Verify lead times with Wafrah and adjust procurement and packaging plans now to turn this capacity boost into smoother supply and more shelf-ready product options.